The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-11-29
FOR The YOUNG FOLKS.
Fun for the Children-The Constitution
Training School for Boys and Girls.
Roll of Honor.


Roll of Honor.
Hepsy and Susie Reynolds, Ioula Grogan, Johnny
Covington, Eva Moore, Annie Gay Brooks, Oracle NJ.
johnson, Neva Alexander, Bette Wilkie Hattie Nc
Caleb, James Padgett, Rosa Wise, Lizzie Warner
Lena HARRISON, Willie Remington, Callie Etheridge,
w. w. Mathis, Talulah Carson, Rabie and Erie
Dawson, Emma Walton. Willie D Lea.
DEAR NEPHEws AND NIECEs I hope YOU
have not thought that Uncle VIII was neglectng
you. But all my letters were written while was
at home, but for month or more l have been
travelling constantly, and therefore have had but
little time to write. When last wrote | think we
had just returned from Key West, and though Aunt
Susie told me might weary you if took you with
me all over the country, we must go through
Florida together then we will ly3ust as far the
other way as possible. We reach Tampa by steamer
from Key West and ii is not at all interesting or
pretty place, so we will pass through. We came
across from Palatka TO Tampa, and now we will go
back by SANFORD SO that we can go down the ST.
Johns river at night One ofthe prettest places we
pass on our route is Kissime City The large hotel
there gives us excellent breakfast Kissime is at
the head OF lake of the same name a very beauti-
full sheet of water on which in winter may be seen
steamboats, of almost all sizes and any number of
sailboats with their white canvass gistenny in the
sun. This is one OF chain of lakes that extends
thiHk Hcufly " ALdTlottc uurDOf, ABOUT one nun
dred miles Lelow Tampa on the west coast. Many
of these lakes are simply springs ana the water
bolls up and you can see nickel dropped into the
water forty feet deep. II seems strange to see
steamboat plying about in a spring and a river flow
ing off from it. Not many of us have seen such We
next pass Lakeland" which is a series of lakes
with Villages and orange groves scattered all through
the pine forest One of the brightest places through
which we pass is orlando built like city and has
thriving industrious look. The houses of course
are almost entirely of wood but their many colored
paints give the place bright, cherry look We
reach Sanford at last-a very pretty and thriving
ploce-and here we take the steamer for Jackson
vile. Almost all these places and hundreds of
others in Florida We're built up and are largely
owned by noltheln people, who spend their winters
here, either searching for health or the enjoyment
of hunting and fishing.
The river st. Johns is unlike anything yea have
ever seen. 1t is just q succession of narrow lakes
connected ly rather narrow river. The Indian
name was much pretticr than ours; they called it
We-la-ka, which means 'chain of lakes" The
water looks almost black from the boat but il you
take some of it in glass it is nearly clear. The
place where take the boat in the afternoon is so
wide that you scarcely see the other Shore and
the widest part of the Mississippi is small comparod
to it, As the stream goes out into the lake the sky
dark, so that you can only the bright, sparkling
foam under the bow of the boat, and away out in
the distance you think it is darker where the shore
W But as TIE steamer plOuBnS along
get nearer the other shore and IL looks to us that
there is no way out but suddenly from above our
heads bright light shoots out fur over the black
waters and we see the entrance to narrow river
am not very nervous, and yet the first time that
bright light gleamel over my head, jumped II is
an electric light end managed by the pilot, who
turns from side to side SO that he may see how to
steer his boat While he is doing that we stand at
the side of the boat and see millions of water lilies
floating all around it; in fact the boat just
10 be resting in bed of them, with their white
flowers nodding and dipping in the water as we
pass. We are passing into narrow river, and the
boat goes very slowly i'll this crooked stream. We
go against the marsh side and the bow OF the
boat almost touches the low hanging boughs OIL the
other. We turn slowly and wind our way alongside
of the dark swamps, and the electric light is moved
from side to side. and can look far out into the
swamps. Sometimes the boat crashes into tree
and you will think the boat is being torn to pieces
but we will be MI right At Jacksonville the river
is very brond indeed ii is the last of the chain OF
lakes. Jacksonville itself is old place, but has
taken on new life as n winter resort and Main
street is one of the most busy business streets 1
know The city has about 10000 people and more
hotels and larger than any city three times It's
size in the country. The water for the city is sup
piled by several artesian wells which are in little
park. There arc Il number Of Iretty residences and
in winter when the visitors are here 1t is bright
place. In the show windows you viii see hundreds
of stuffed aligators and hundreds of stuffed birds of
beautiful plumage, and other Articles which are
offered for sale as Florida curoslies, though most
of the fish-scae jewelry which used to be thought
very beautiful is made in the Bohama Islands |
suppose it does not matter, so the rich northern
visitors buy them. But am writing too much /
wanted to tell you about st. Augustine and Pablo
Beach, but l heard Aunt Susie say she was going to
Florida this winter, and know she will love to tell
you of what she sees. Afectionately,
UNCLE WILL.